A North Wales Assembly member said a woman’s three-hour wait for an ambulance after her baby was stillborn was the “most horrific example” of a failure by the ambulance service she had ever heard of.

Janet Finch-Saunders, who revealed she had suffered a stillbirth in hospital her self many years ago, said she expected a full investigation into what went wrong in the case of Debra Clark, who gave birth to her lifeless son at home in Chirk in April.

Yesterday, Ms Clark revealed her ordeal in the Daily Post in the hope nothing like it would ever happen again.

Readers expressed their shock at what she had been through, and questioned why other arrangements were not made if no ambulance was available.

On learning of Ms Clark’s experience, Conservative Aberconwy AM Mrs Finch-Saunders said: “This is the most horrific example of a complete failing in our health and ambulance service that I have ever known.

“It is utterly shocking that when this young mother was facing such a dangerous situation for her and her baby, she was left for so many hours screaming and writhing in agony without any medical support in place whatsoever.

Debra Clark went into labour and rang an ambulance, but none came until three hours after the child was stillborn (Image: Ian Cooper)

“Having suffered a still born baby myself in hospital many years ago and despite much heartache, I consider myself very lucky to have been fully supported in my hour of need.

“I simply cannot begin to imagine the horrific anguish and pain that mum Debra and her family must have experienced waiting so long for help to arrive, having lost her precious baby.

“She and her baby were failed beyond any reasonable doubt.”

Conservative AM Janet Finch-Saunders

The Welsh Ambulance Service has said a full and thorough investigation is being carried out into the incident, in April this year.

Her family and concerned neighbours repeatedly called for an ambulance that never came and her distraught father was forced to deliver her lifeless child.

Attached to her deceased baby for five hours, Ms Clark was screaming in pain as she drifted in and out of consciousness while bleeding.

Her relatives flagged down a police car and officers renewed the call for an ambulance, with one finally arriving just after 1am the following morning.

Mrs Finch-Saunders added: “My thoughts and prayers now remain with Debra as she has to face coming to terms with her tragic and desperate loss, not least of which the particularly horrific circumstances she experienced on that most traumatic evening.”

Ms Clark said she been left “traumatised” by the events in April this year and was telling her story in the hope it would prevent the same thing happening to someone else.

Her father Andy Clark described how he had to tie a shoelace around the umbilical cord as he tried to keep his daughter conscious - and repeatedly tried to summon help.

He said: “Even telling them there was a dead baby on the couch didn’t seem to help.

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“It was absolutely horrific. Debbie was screaming in agony and she said something was coming out, and it was her baby.

“I was on the phone to the ambulance controller, who kept on asking me if Debra was breathing, had she gone into cardiac arrest?

“They told me not to cut the umbilical cord, to wrap the baby up in blankets, and I was crying at the time begging them to hurry up as Debbie was in such a state.”

Mum-of-four Julie Stewart, the partner of Ms Clark’s uncle Kevin, said she feared she might die, adding: “We were very worried we were going to lose her as she was slipping in and out of consciousness, we were trying to keep her awake by slapping her face.

“We were later told she had flu and a chest infection which caused the miscarriage. She had a very high temperature and was losing a lot of blood and was as white as a sheet.

“She was screaming for the ambulance, asking why it hadn’t arrived.”

She has yet to hear from the Welsh Ambulance Service, despite being told a complaint has been made on her behalf by Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board .

Community Health Council chief officer Geoff Ryall-Harvey

Geoff Ryall-Harvey, chief officer of patient watchdog North Wales Community Health Council (CHC), offered his organisation’s support to Ms Clark.

He said: “North Wales CHC extends its sympathy to Debra Clark for the loss of her baby and the ordeal she experienced.

“Our independent advocacy service is here to assist her take her concerns through the NHS complaints procedure.

“By making this complaint Debra is helping to make sure that no other pregnant women have the same awful experience.”

There also has been widespread support for Ms Clark on social media since the story broke.

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Debra Clark waited three hours for an ambulance after giving birth to her stillborn son (Image: Ian Cooper)

On the Daily Post Facebook page, Mandy Neal wrote: “So very sad. That poor girl must have been terrified. If there were no ambulances available they should of sent a midwife or a doctor to her. Hope heads roll for this.”

Siân Morgan-Lloyd added: “Ny God how awful for this poor woman and her baby. Hope there is an investigation by the ambulance service into this appalling neglect of a patient. I am wondering why a GP and a midwife weren’t called if the ambulance was delayed?”

Shan K Charnock added: “This is a tragic tale,such an appalling way to say goodbye.”

A comment left by reader Cheryl2 on the Daily Post website read: “Will this be another’We will learn by our mistakes’ ...”

And Christopher1974 said: “Are we now a third world country?? Disgraceful, this is.”

Claire Bevan, Director of Quality, Safety and Patient Experience for the Welsh Ambulance Service, said: “We would like to extend our sincere thoughts and heartfelt condolences to Debra and her family at this difficult time.

“We are working with Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board to carry out a full and thorough investigation to understand what happened and our findings will be shared with Debbie once this has been concluded.

“Once again we would like to reiterate our deepest sympathies to Debra and her family for their loss.”